Who Is The Holy Spirit, Part 1

Is the Holy Spirit a universal force or a person? Who is the Holy Spirit? What is His work? What does He do in the world today? A Greek word for spirit is p?e?µa (pneuma) and so a study of the Holy Spirit is called Pneumatology.

Is the Holy Spirit a Person?

He has a will and makes choices. We read that the giving of spiritual gifts is a decision made by the Holy Spirit.

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. (1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT)

The Holy Spirit taught and reminded the Apostles what to write in the New Testament.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative--that is, the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26 NLT)

The Holy Spirit guides people into truth loyally passing on what He received from Jesus.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. (John 16:13-14 NLT)

The Holy Spirit glorifies and reveals Jesus.

He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. (John 16:14 NASB)

The Holy Spirit reproves or convicts of sin.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8 KJV)

The Holy Spirit anointed or commissioned us, placed a seal or impression upon believers and is a guarantee.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit can be grieved or brought to sorrow.

Don’t make God’s Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins. (Ephesians 4:30 CEV)

The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed.

So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven--except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. (Matthew 12:31 NLT)

The Holy Spirit possesses a rational mind, helping and interceding for us, even giving us the right words to say, like He inspired the apostles to preach and write the Bible.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. (1 Corinthians 2:11-13 NIV)

The Holy Spirit can be lied to.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 5:3-4 NLT)

The Holy Spirit can be stifled or thwarted.

Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJV)

The Holy Spirit can be resisted.

You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you! (Acts 7:51 NLT)

The Holy Spirit is distinguished from yet related to the Father and the Son.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV)

Is the Holy Spirit God?

As we just read, the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son, and He is treated equally with the Father and the Son.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 NASB)

The Holy Spirit performs the works of God. For instance, he inspired Scripture.